in Extra-Tropical Countries. 15 



Adesmia balsamica, Bertero. 



The " Jarilla " of Chili. A small shrub, remarkable for exuding 

 a fragrant balsam of some technic value (Philippi). 



jiEglceras majus, Gaertner. 



Southern Asia, Polynesia, Northern and Eastern Australia. This 

 spurious Mangrove-tree extends far south into New South Wales. It 

 may be employed for preventing the washing away of mud by the 

 tide, and for thus consolidating shores subject to inundation by sea- 

 floods. 



-ZEschynomene aspera. Linn. 



The " Solah " of tropical Asia and Africa. A large perennial erect 

 or floating swamp-plant. Introduced from the Botanic Gardens of 

 Melbourne early into the tropical parts of Australia. Pith-hats are 

 made from the young stems of this plant; this pith is also a substi- 

 tute for cork in some of its uses. The Solah is of less importance for 

 cultivation than for naturalization. 



Californica, Nuttall. 

 California. This beautiful tree attains a height of 50 feet, with a 

 stem 6 feet in diameter, the crown spreading out exceptionally over a 

 width of 60 feet, the upper branches touching the ground. In full 

 bloom it is a magnificent ornament, with its crowded snow-white. 

 flowers, visible for a long distance. The wood is light and porous, 

 and used for the yokes of oxen and for various other implements 

 (Dr. Gibbons). 



^Bsculus Hippocastanum, Linn. 



The " Horse-Chestnut Tree." Indigenous to North-Greece, 

 Thessaly and Epirus, on high ranges (Heldreich), where it is asso- 

 ciated with the Walnut, several Oaks and Pines, at an altitude of 

 3-4,000 feet, occurring likewise in Imeretia, the Caucasus (Eichwald), 

 and possibly wild also in Central Asia, ascending the Himalayas to 

 10,000 feet. One of the most showy of deciduous trees, more parti- 

 cularly when during spring "it has reached the meridian of its glory, 

 and stands forth in all the gorgeousness of leaves and blossoms." 

 Height reaching 60 feet, circumference of stem sometimes 16 feet. 

 In cool climates one of the choicest of trees for street-planting. 

 Flowers sought by bees in preference to those of any other northern 

 tree except the Linden. Even in Norway, in latitude 67 56' N., a 

 cultivated tree attained a height of 60 feet and a stem-circumference 

 of 11 feet (Schuebeler). It will succeed even in sandy soil, but 

 likes sheltered spots. The wood adapted for furniture, also par- 

 ticularly for mould-patterns in casting, the slips of pianofortes and 

 a variety of other purposes ; it remains free from insects. The 

 seeds yield starch copiously, and supply also food for various domestic 

 animals; the bark serves as a good tanning material. A variety 

 is known with thornless fruits. Three species occur in Japan and 

 several in North-America and South- Asia, mostly not of great height. 



